Dolly Parton is sparking concern after a shaky public appearance left fans worried about her health.
The 80-year-old country icon stepped out Wednesday, June 24, to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of her new Tennessee travel center, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, in Cornersville. Dressed in her signature sparkly, skintight ensemble and towering platinum hair, Parton smiled and waved at the packed crowd while wielding a pair of giant, bedazzled pink scissors.
“I’m sure some of you are wondering why I wanted a truck stop. Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers! I had to throw my squirrelly little self in there,” she joked, per a clip posted by Country Now, likely referencing Buc-ee’s, the popular travel-stop chain known for its beaver mascot.
Instagram/Country Now
All joking aside, fans quickly noticed something was off. Two men stayed by Parton’s side throughout the appearance, steadying her as she walked and gripping the podium tightly while she delivered remarks — seemingly to keep her from losing her balance.
The moment set off a wave of concern in the comments of an Instagram video posted Wednesday, June 24, of the appearance. “Hope she’s okay; those guys seem to be ready to grab her in a second,” one follower wrote, while another speculated, “Dolly must not be feeling well they hang on her the whole time.”
One commenter went further, theorizing, “Dolly looks like she may be recovering from a stroke, as she is being supported and her eye looks a little wonky.”
Others chalked up Parton’s unsteady gait to her age rather than any underlying issue. “Heels, 80 and top heavy of course they were cautious. Love you Dolly,” one commenter reasoned, while another added, “Dolly’s age is clearly catching up to her and she looks absolutely beautiful.”
Instagram/Country Now
A third agreed, “Dolly is 80, of course she is not steady in stilettos. … She looks fabulous.”
As National Examiner previously reported, Parton postponed her Las Vegas residency last year, leaving Tim McGraw to take her place, before canceling the run altogether last month amid ongoing health issues.
“My immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple, three years, and they’re working real hard on rebuilding [and] strengthening those, and hopefully I’ll be up to snuff again soon,” the “9 to 5” singer explained. She’s also said she’s been prioritizing her well-being more since the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025.
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